Method and Apparatus for Automated Signal Analysis and Reporting Among RF Receiver Devices

ABSTRACT

A receiver control is configured to receive signal receive level data from a plurality of signal receivers. The receiver control determines if a signal receive level is lower than expected. In response to determining that the signal receive level is lower than expected, it is determined if an alternate signal is available via an alternate signal path. In response to determining that an alternate signal is available, an instruction is transmitted to one of the plurality of signal receivers with an indication that the alternate signal is to be received via the alternate signal path. The receiver control transmits the alternate signal via the alternate signal path to the one of the plurality of signal receivers experiencing lower than expected signal receive levels in one embodiment. The receiver can resume utilizing an original signal via an original signal path when the signal receive level of the original signal returns to expected levels.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to satellite broadcastreceivers, and more particularly to automated signal analysis andreporting among radio frequency (RF) receiver devices.

Consumers can receive broadcasts via satellite using direct broadcastsatellite (DBS) radio frequency (RF) receivers. These consumers have asatellite dish installed at their residence for receiving signals from asatellite. The satellite dish transmits broadcast signals to a signalreceiver. The signal receiver converts the broadcast signal into adisplay signal which is output to a consumer's display, such as atelevision.

Broadcast signals from the satellite can be disrupted by a variety ofobstructions such as aircraft and atmospheric events. Those signaldisruptions can affect the quality of content viewed by a user. Forexample, signal disruption can cause pixilation of a displayed video.Signal disruptions often require troubleshooting. In addition, therestoration process to reestablish a disrupted or lost signal can belong and cumbersome. As a result, consumers can become frustrated withsignal disruptions.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a method for operating a receiver server includesreceiving signal receive level data from a plurality of signal receiversfor an original signal via an original signal path. In one embodiment,the original signal is a radio frequency signal from a satellite and theoriginal signal path is from the satellite to a dish associated with theplurality of signal receivers. It is determined if a signal receivelevel is lower than expected. In response to determining that the signalreceive level is lower than expected, it is determined if an alternatesignal is available via an alternate signal path. In response todetermining that an alternate signal is available, an instruction istransmitted to one of the plurality of signal receivers with anindication that the alternate signal is to be obtained via the alternatesignal path. A receiver server transmits the alternate signal via thealternate signal path to the one of the plurality of signal receiversexperiencing lower than expected signal receive levels. The alternatesignal can be transmitted via the alternate signal path usingout-of-band communications. In one embodiment, the instruction alsoincludes a timer value that indicates a period of time that thealternate signal is to be received via the alternate signal path. Thetimer value, in one embodiment, is based on an amount of time over whicha prior signal disruption occurred. In one embodiment, the receivercontrol receives an indication that the signal receive level is at anexpected value. In response, an instruction is transmitted to the one ofthe plurality of signal receivers that includes an indication that theoriginal signal is to be received via the original signal path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a direct broadcast satellite system according to anembodiment;

FIG. 2 a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 3 depicts a high-level block diagram of a computer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) system 100. Contentserver 102 stores content for broadcast to consumers. For example,content server 102 can store movies, television shows, commercials, etc.for broadcast to consumers. The content is typically ordered and editedprior to broadcast in accordance with a broadcast schedule. Contentserver 102 is in communication with transmitter 104. Content server 102transmits a signal to transmitter 104 comprising content. Transmitter104 is a device configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal toa satellite. As shown in FIG. 1, transmitter 104 transmits broadcastsignal 106 to satellite 108 based on the signal received from contentserver 102. Satellite 108 is configured to receive broadcast signal 106and retransmit the signal as broadcast signal 110 to a plurality ofreceivers located in a large geographic area (e.g. North America, theUnited States, or a portion of the United States).

Broadcast signal 110 can be received by multiple geographic locations.FIG. 1 depicts residence 112 having dish 114 for receiving broadcastsignal 110. Typically, a residence, such as residence 112 will have asingle dish, such as dish 114, which is installed and adjusted toreceive signals from one or more satellites, such as satellite 108. Dish114 can be any type of antenna for receiving an RF signal such asbroadcast signal 110. Dish 114 transmits broadcast signal 110 to RFsignal switch and distribution device 116 (also referred to as RF signalswitch 116). RF signal switch 116 is configured to replicate broadcastsignal 110 and transmit the signal to one or more signal receivers, suchas signal receivers 118, 122, 126, 130. RF signal switch 114 can also beconfigured to convert broadcast signal 110 into a format compatible witha signal receiver.

Broadcast signal 110 is received by signal receiver 118 and is convertedto a display signal for transmission to a display device, such asdisplay device 120. Signal receiver 118, is a device configured toreceive broadcast signal 110 and perform one or more operations toprovide a display signal to display device 120. For example, signalreceiver 118 can be a set top box. Signal receivers 122, 126, and 130receive broadcast signal 110 and convert the signal to display signalsfor transmission to respective display devices 124, 128, and 132 in amanner similar to that described above in connection with signalreceiver 118 and display 120.

Signal receivers 118, 122, 126, and 130, in one embodiment, are alsoconfigured to determine a value for a signal receive level. The signalreceive level is the strength of the signal received by a respectivesignal receiver. Values for signal receive levels can be measured andcompared directly with reference values. In one embodiment, actualsignal receive level values can be converted to values associated withan arbitrary scale. For example, signal receive level values can beconverted to a value on an arbitrary scale of one to five with fivebeing the highest. This conversion can be used to allow comparison ofsignal receive level values for different receivers having differentranges for actual values. For example, one signal receiver may measuresignal receive levels having a range of one to ten volts while anothersignal receiver can have signal receive levels with a range of one tofive volts. Conversion of signal receive values to an arbitrary scalecan be used to allow comparison of signal receive levels havingdifferent ranges.

Signal receivers 118, 122, 126, 130 are also configured to transmitoperation data to a remote location, such as receiver server 136 viadata path 135. In one embodiment, data path 135 is a network such as theInternet. Signal receivers, in one embodiment, communicate with receiverserver 136 via receiver controller 134 and data path 135.

Receiver controller 134 is configured to compile data received fromsignal receivers and transmit the compiled data to receiver server 136via data path 135. In one embodiment, receiver controller 134 isconfigured to compile and store data from signal receivers 118, 122,126, and 130 and periodically transmit the compiled data to receiverserver 136 via data path 135.

Signal receivers 118, 122, 126, and 130 and receiver controller 134 cantransmit and receive various data to and from receiver server 136 viadata path 135. Data such as control data, operation data, and signalreceive level data transmitted among these components are referred to asin-band communications. Control data comprises data that can be used toaffect the operation of signal receivers 118, 122, 126, and 130.Operation data comprises data that indicates use of signal receivers118, 122, 126, and 130 (e.g., current channel receiver is tuned to,etc.) Signal receive level data pertains to values associated with astrength of a signal received by each of signal receivers 118, 122, 126,and 130.

Receiver server 136 is in communication with receiver database 138 whichstores information pertaining to signal receivers, such as signalreceivers 118, 122, 126, and 130. In one embodiment, receiver server 136and receiver database 138 are in communication with content server 102.In such embodiments, receiver server 136 can receive content fromcontent server 102 for transmission to signal receivers 118, 122, 126,and 130 via an alternate signal path (described in further detailbelow).

In one embodiment, signal disruptions can be compensated for by use ofan alternate signal path such as data path 135. Data path 135 is usedfor in-band communications. Additional data can be transmitted via datapath 135. Communication for transmission of data other than controldata, operation data, and signal receive level data via data path 135 isreferred to as out-of-band communications.

Content can be transmitted to signal receivers 118, 122, 126, and 130from content server 102 via receiver server 136, data path 135, andreceiver controller 134. This alternate signal path can be used whenbroadcast signals 110 transmitted from satellite 108 are disrupted.Receiver controller 134 is in communication with receivers 118, 122,126, and 130 and with receiver server 136. In addition, receiver server136 and receiver database 138 are in communication with content server102.

FIG. 2 depicts a flow chart of a method of operating receiver server 136(shown in FIG. 1), according to one embodiment. At step 202, signalreceive level data of a broadcast signal is received by receiver server136, in one embodiment, from one of signal receivers 118, 122, 126 or130 via receiver controller 134. As described above, each signalreceiver determines a value of a signal receive level of the respectivereceived signal. The method then proceeds to step 204, where it isdetermined whether a signal receive level within valid performanceparameters. In one embodiment, the performance parameters are based on aminimum signal receive level required to be received by a signalreceiver in order to display content in an acceptable manner. Forexample, a minimum signal receive level can be selected so that contentgenerated from received signals has a limited amount of pixilation orother type of video and/or audio distortion. If the signal receive levelis within valid performance parameters (i.e., the signal receive levelhas an expected value) as determined in step 204, the method proceeds tostep 206. At step 206, use of the RF signal continues and the methodproceeds to step 202. If the signal receive level is not within validperformance parameters as determined in step 204 (i.e., signal receiverlevel is lower than expected), the method proceeds to step 208.

At step 208, receiver server 136 determines if an alternate signal isavailable. For example, an alternate signal may be obtained by one ormore of signal receivers 118, 122, 126 and/or 130 from receiver server136 (shown in FIG. 1) which is in communication with content server 102(also shown in FIG. 1). In one embodiment, an alternate signal isavailable if the content that was to be provided to a signal receivervia satellite 108 can be obtained from content server by receiver server136. In addition, in order for an alternate signal to be available,out-of-band communication from receiver server 136 to receivercontroller 134 must have enough bandwidth to support transmission of thecontent. If an alternate signal is not available, the method proceeds tostep 206 and use of the broadcast signal continues. If an alternatesignal is available, the method proceeds to step 210 where a timer isstarted. In one embodiment, the timer has a value which expires after apredetermined time period. For example, the time period can represent anamount of time after which RF signals received by dish 114 normallyreturn to a signal receive level within valid parameters (e.g., anexpected signal receive level).

At step 212, the alternate signal path is used to obtain the alternatesignal. In one embodiment, use of the alternate signal path is initiatedby receiver server 136 transmitting instructions to receiver controller134 to utilize the alternate signal path (i.e., the communication pathbetween receiver server 136 and receiver controller 134) and alsoprovides a timer value. At step 214, receiver server 136 determines ifthe timer has expired. If the timer has not expired, the method proceedsto step 212 and use of the alternate signal path continues. If the timerhas expired, the method proceeds to step 216. At step 216, receiverserver 136 determines if the signal receive level is within validperformance parameters (e.g., an expected signal receive level). If thesignal receive level is within valid performance parameters, then themethod proceeds to step 206 and the use of the RF signal begins again.If the signal receive level is not within valid performance parameters(e.g., signal receive level is lower than expected), the method proceedsto step 208.

In one embodiment, method 200 continues to be performed by receiverserver 136 as long as one or more of receivers 118, 122, 126, and 130are operating (i.e., outputting signals for display to a user). Itshould be noted that method 200 is described above as being performed byreceiver server 136. In one embodiment, method 200 is performed byreceiver controller 134 based on data received from receiver server 136.In one embodiment, signal receivers communicate with receiver server 136directly.

As shown in FIG. 1, signal receivers 118, 122, 126, and 130 each receivesignals from dish 114 via RF signal switch 116. As such, certainproblems can be diagnosed based on variation between signal receivelevels of the receivers. For example, if one of signal receivers 118,122, 126, or 130 is experiencing lower than expected signal receivelevels, the problem is most likely with transmission of a signal fromdish 114 to the receiver with the lower than expected signal receivelevel and not with dish 114. If all signal receivers connected to acommon dish are experiencing lower than expected signal receive levels,the problem is most likely caused by an obstruction causing signaldisruption, a problem with the dish, and/or a problem with the RF signalswitch.

Satellite 108, RF signal switch 116, signal receivers 118, 122, 126,130, displays 120, 124, 128, 132, receiver controller 134, receiverserver 136, receiver database 138, and content server 102 can each beimplemented using a computer. A high-level block diagram of such acomputer is illustrated in FIG. 3. Computer 302 contains a processor 304which controls the overall operation of the computer 302 by executingcomputer program instructions which define such operation. The computerprogram instructions may be stored in a storage device 312, or othercomputer readable medium (e.g., magnetic disk, CD ROM, etc.), and loadedinto memory 310 when execution of the computer program instructions isdesired. Thus, the method steps of FIG. 2 can be defined by the computerprogram instructions stored in the memory 310 and/or storage 312 andcontrolled by the processor 304 executing the computer programinstructions. For example, the computer program instructions can beimplemented as computer executable code programmed by one skilled in theart to perform an algorithm defined by the method steps of FIG. 2.Accordingly, by executing the computer program instructions, theprocessor 304 executes an algorithm defined by the method steps of FIG.2. The computer 302 also includes one or more network interfaces 306 forcommunicating with other devices via a network. The computer 302 alsoincludes input/output devices 308 that enable user interaction with thecomputer 302 (e.g., display, keyboard, mouse, speakers, buttons, etc.)One skilled in the art will recognize that an implementation of anactual computer could contain other components as well, and that FIG. 5is a high level representation of some of the components of such acomputer for illustrative purposes.

The foregoing Detailed Description is to be understood as being in everyrespect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the scopeof the inventive concept disclosed herein is not to be determined fromthe Detailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpretedaccording to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to beunderstood that the embodiments shown and described herein are onlyillustrative of the principles of the inventive concept and that variousmodifications may be implemented by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the inventive concept. Thoseskilled in the art could implement various other feature combinationswithout departing from the scope and spirit of the inventive concept.

1. A method comprising: receiving signal receive level data from aplurality of signal receivers, the signal receive level data associatedwith an original signal transmitted to the plurality of signal receiversvia a satellite; receiving an alternate signal, the alternate signalidentical to the original signal; determining if a signal receive levelis lower than expected; determining if the alternate signal can betransmitted to the plurality of signal receivers via an alternate signalpath in response to determining that the signal receive level is lowerthan expected; and transmitting an instruction to one of the pluralityof signal receivers, the instruction comprising an indication that thealternate signal is to be received via the alternate signal path inresponse to determining that the alternate signal is available.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, the instruction further comprising a timer valuespecifying a period of time that the alternate signal is to be receivedvia the alternate signal path.
 3. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising: transmitting the alternate signal via the alternate signalpath.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the timer value is based on anamount of time over which a prior signal disruption occurred.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: receiving an indication that thesignal receive level is at an expected value; and transmitting aninstruction comprising an indication that the original signal is to bereceived via an original signal path.
 6. The method of claim 5, whereinthe original signal is a radio frequency signal transmitted from asatellite.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternate signal istransmitted via out-of-band communications.
 8. An apparatus comprising:a processor; and a memory to store computer program instructions, thecomputer program instructions when executed by the processor cause theprocessor to perform operations comprising: receiving signal receivelevel data from a plurality of signal receivers, the signal receivelevel data associated with an original signal transmitted to theplurality of signal receivers via a satellite; receiving an alternatesignal, the alternate signal identical to the original signal;determining if a signal receive level is lower than expected;determining if the alternate signal can be transmitted to the pluralityof signal receivers via an alternate signal path in response todetermining that the signal receive level is lower than expected; andtransmitting an instruction to one of the plurality of signal receivers,the instruction comprising an indication that the alternate signal is tobe received via the alternate signal path in response to determiningthat the alternate signal is available.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, theinstruction further comprising a timer value specifying a period of timethat the alternate signal is to be received via the alternate signalpath.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, the operations further comprising:transmitting the alternate signal via the alternate signal path.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the timer value is based on an amount oftime over which a prior signal disruption occurred.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 8, the operations further comprising: receiving an indication thatthe signal receive level is at an expected value; and transmitting aninstruction comprising an indication that the original signal is to bereceived via an original signal path.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12,wherein the original signal is a radio frequency signal transmitted froma satellite.
 14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the alternate signalis transmitted via out-of-band communications.
 15. A non-transitorycomputer readable medium storing computer program instructions which,when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operationscomprising: receiving signal receive level data from a plurality ofsignal receivers, the signal receive level data associated with anoriginal signal transmitted to the plurality of signal receivers via asatellite; receiving an alternate signal, the alternate signal identicalto the original signal; determining if a signal receive level is lowerthan expected; determining if an alternate signal can be transmitted tothe plurality of signal receivers via an alternate signal path inresponse to determining that the signal receive level is lower thanexpected; and transmitting an instruction to one of the plurality ofsignal receivers, the instruction comprising an indication that thealternate signal is to be received via the alternate signal path inresponse to determining that the alternate signal is available.
 16. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, the instructionfurther comprising a timer value specifying a period of time that thealternate signal is to be received via the alternate signal path. 17.The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, the operationsfurther comprising: transmitting the alternate signal via the alternatesignal path.
 18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim16, wherein the timer value is based on an amount of time over which aprior signal disruption occurred.
 19. The non-transitory computerreadable medium of claim 15, the operations further comprising:receiving an indication that the signal receive level is at an expectedvalue; and transmitting an instruction comprising an indication that theoriginal signal is to be received via an original signal path.
 20. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein theoriginal signal is a radio frequency signal transmitted from asatellite.